Amending ID Documents
If you need support throughout this process, Identity Health Clinic offers a Legal Support Group. Please reach out to the clinic at frontdesk@identityinc.org or 907-865-3247 for more information.
Step 1: Request a Name & Gender Change
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Forms: the two forms you are REQUIRED to fill out in order to legally change your name: a petition for name change and a report for name change (type or use black / blue ink when filling out these documents).
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Locate the probate court of the county you live in here. If you live in Anchorage, the address is 825 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501.
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Take the two required forms, $150.00, and either – or both – of the other two documents that may be relevant to your situation to file at your local court.
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After you have filed at the local court office, you will then receive a letter in the mail that will include a confirmation and date of your court hearing (which will be at least 40 days after the time you filed the documents)
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While waiting for your court date, begin the process of getting a doctor to sign this form, if you are changing your name AND updating the gender marker on your Driver’s License.
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Court hearing: this should be relatively short; they want to make sure you aren’t changing your name to avoid debt or defraud anyone.
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After the judge approves your name and/or gender marker change the court will give you two copies of the certificate that proves you legally changed your name and/or gender. It is recommended you pay to get two or three extra copies in order to update other official documents like SSN or DL.
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You have 30 days after you receive a legal name change to update your license.
**Detailed instructions for this process can be found here and if you are a guardian of child needing to correct name & gender marker, specific instructions for child’s name change here
Step 2: Update Your Social Security Card
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Find your local Social Security office here and make an appointment (Anchorage’s is: Room A11 222 W 8th Ave Anchorage AK 99513)
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Fill out the application for a Social Security card
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When completing the form SS-5, list your new court-ordered name.
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In order to correct your SSN’s gender marker bring one of the following:
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A signed letter from a doctor on letterhead showing appropriate clinical treatment – the doctor must use this template
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A valid 10-year passport showing your updated gender: instructions on how to update the gender marker on your passport here
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A birth certificate showing your updated gender: instructions for Alaska birth certificate laws here (scroll down the page to find “Alaska birth certificate laws”)
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A court order recognizing a change of gender
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In order to correct your name, bring one of the certified copies of your name change
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All documents you submit must be either originals or copies certified
by the issuing agency. The SSA won’t accept photocopies or notarized
copies of documents.
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If not born in US bring proof of immigration status
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Bring all relevant documents to the closest social security office
Step 4: Update Passport / Birth Certificate
Passport:
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Find the closest location to correct your gender / name markers on your passport in person here
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Instructions for updating gender marker on passport
Birth Certificate:
*This is more complicated than updating your passport and often your passport can be used in place of a birth certificate; it’s not necessary to update both.
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Fill out an Alaska birth certificate request form
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To correct a birth certificate’s gender marker, obtain a letter from a medical or mental health provider attesting to appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition.
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To update the name, bring a certified copy of the Decree of Name Change
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To update the gender marker, a letter from a medical or mental health provider (use this gender change letter template) OR a certified copy of a court ordered change of sex
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Fee ($60 for the amendment fee and one certified copy)
Other Helpful Resources
* Other helpful resources:
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A checklist for the process of correcting name & gender marker on official documents
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A guide to Alaska specific procedures
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Updating ID info support & resource page
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Financial resources for changing IDs
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https://translifeline.org/microgrants/ – apply for a microgrant through translifeline
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https://transequality.org/Documents – apply for $200 to update documents
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